Pv 37The God Serīsaka

– STORIES OF HUNGRY GHOSTS

– THE GREAT CHAPTER

4.2

BJT 613Let us now hearken to the meeting between the Yakkha and the merchants that took place at that time. How the story was skillfully exchanged between one and another — let all listen to that story.

BJT 614That king named Pāyāsi, of great renown, had gone to dwell together with the gods of the earth. Even while delighting in his own divine palace, that non-human being spoke to the humans:

BJT 615"In a fearsome forest, a place devoid of human beings, in a desert, lacking water, lacking food, a place exceedingly difficult to traverse, in the midst of a sandy waste, many people lose their senses from fear of the dangers.

BJT 616Here there are no fruits nor plants with roots, no firewood — where then could there be food in this place? — save for much dust, much sand, scorching heat, burning, and harshness.

BJT 617The desert is like a heated pan, without benefit, equivalent to another world (hell); this dwelling was once the abode of fierce beings, a cursed land.

BJT 618And you — for what reason, longing for what, did you hastily assemble and enter into this very region — out of greed, out of fear, or have you been led astray?"

BJT 619"The caravan leaders of the lands of Magadha and Aṅga, having loaded their goods in great abundance, travel to the land of Sindhu and Sovīra for the sake of wealth, with the hope of profit.

BJT 620During the day, unable to endure the thirst and ever mindful of compassion toward the draft animals, all of us travel at this pace and come to the road at night, at an untimely hour.

BJT 621Having set out late, having lost our way, confused like the blind, having gone astray in the forest, in a place exceedingly difficult to traverse, in the midst of the sandy sea, we do not recognize the directions, our minds bewildered.

BJT 622And, O Yakkha, having seen this — something never seen before — the finest divine palace and yourself, while longing for survival hereafter, upon beholding you, we have become joyful, our minds cheerful and uplifted."

BJT 623"For the sake of wealth, you go to distant quarters, to the far shore of this sea and sandy waste, to roads traveled with staffs and paths marked with stakes, to rivers, and moreover to the perilous roads in the mountains.

BJT 624O you, having entered the territories of others and observed the people of many lands — whatever you have heard or seen, let us hear from you that which is wondrous."

BJT 625"O divine son, anything more wondrous than this we have neither heard nor seen — all of it surpasses the human world; having beheld it, we are satisfied by its extraordinary beauty.

BJT 626In the sky there are lotus ponds with countless flowers, with many white lotuses, and these trees bear fruit continuously, with fragrances spreading forth in the utmost sweetness.

BJT 627There are pillars of emerald rising one hundred ratanas high, with surfaces extending wide, made of stone and coral, with cat's-eye gems and rubies, and these columns are made of wish-fulfilling jewels.

BJT 628There are a thousand pillars of incomparable power; above them stands this magnificent divine palace, jeweled within, joined with golden galleries, and skillfully covered with golden roofing.

BJT 629This palace shines with refined gold from the Jambu river. That place is well polished, adorned with towers, staircases, and terraces, firm, lovely, graceful in form, well proportioned, supremely captivating to behold, and delightful.

BJT 630Within the jeweled palace, with abundant food and drink, surrounded by a company of celestial maidens, resounding with small drums, large drums, and musical instruments, you are honored with praise and homage.

BJT 631In the tower of the noble divine palace, delightful, awakened by groups of women, you — inconceivable, endowed with every virtue — rejoice like King Vessavaṇa at Nalinī.

BJT 632Are you a god, or are you a Yakkha, the Lord of the gods, or of human nature? The merchants and caravan leaders ask you. Please tell us what your name is — are you a Yakkha?"

BJT 633"I am indeed the Yakkha named Serissaka, dwelling in the desert, the guardian of the sandy waste. I protect this region, carrying out the commands of King Vessavaṇa."

BJT 634"Was this received by you by chance, arising through development, self-created, or assigned by the gods? The merchants and caravan leaders ask you: By what means did you attain this pleasing station?"

BJT 635"This was not received by me by chance, did not arise through development, was not self-created, nor was it assigned by the gods. This pleasing station I attained through deeds that are not evil, through my own meritorious virtues."

BJT 636"What was your duty? And what noble conduct did you have? This accomplished fruit belongs to what was skillfully practiced? The merchants and caravan leaders ask you: By what means did you attain this divine palace?"

BJT 637"When I governed the kingdom of Kosala, Pāyāsi was my name. At that time I was one of nihilistic views, miserly, of evil nature, and one who proclaimed the doctrine of annihilationism.

BJT 638And then there was the monk Kumārakassapa, learned, with vivid and eloquent teaching, noble. At that time he delivered the teaching of the Dhamma to me, dispelling the distortions of view for me.

BJT 639I, having listened to his teaching of the Dhamma, declared myself a lay disciple. I abstained from the taking of life, I refrained from what is not given — from theft — in the world, from drinking intoxicants, and I did not speak falsehood; I found delight only with my own wife.

BJT 640That was my duty, that was also my noble conduct. This accomplished fruit belongs to that which was skillfully practiced. Through those deeds that are not evil, through those meritorious virtues, I attained this divine palace."

BJT 641"It is said that those of wisdom speak truth; the words of the wise are without error. A person of meritorious kamma, wherever they go, is joyful in that very place — one who has sensual pleasures according to their wishes.

BJT 642Wherever there is grief and lamentation, slaughter and captivity, obstruction — there one of evil qualities goes, never to be free from the realm of suffering."

BJT 643"The assembly appears as though bewildered, as though troubled at this moment. O divine son, then by what cause has this assembly and yourself fallen into despondency?"

BJT 644"O friends, from the neighboring sirīsa forest, these divine fragrances spread sweetly; having dispelled the darkness by day and by night, they waft of their own accord to this divine palace.

BJT 645And when a hundred years have passed, only one fruit of these trees comes to bear. From the time I was born in the assembly of gods here, one hundred human years have passed.

BJT 646O friends, I have seen that I shall abide in this divine palace for five hundred years; through the exhaustion of my lifespan, through the exhaustion of my merit, I shall die. It is on account of that very sorrow that I am stricken with distress."

BJT 647"By what means could one of such standing, having long since attained an incomparable heavenly palace, be sorrowful? Is it not only those who have been reborn for a brief time, those with little merit, who could be sorrowful?"

BJT 648"The fact that you speak affectionate words to me means that my counsel is agreeable to you. Sirs, you have been protected by me according to your wish; therefore, go forth on your journey safely."

BJT 649"Having gone to the lands of Sindhu and Sovīra, we, with the aim of wealth and the hope of profit, having full generosity according to plan, will hold a grand festival for Serissa."

BJT 650"Do not hold a festival for Serissa, and all will come to pass for you as you have said. Avoid entirely evil and unwholesome actions, and resolve to be devoted to the Dhamma.

BJT 651In this assembly there is a learned lay follower, accomplished in virtue and duty, faithful, generous, and exceedingly good, reflective, contented, and heedful.

BJT 652One who does not intentionally speak falsehood, does not think of harming others, does not cause division or speak divisively, and speaks words that are gentle and kind.

BJT 653Respectful, deferential, well-trained, not malicious, pure in higher virtue, of holy conduct—this person supports his mother and also his father in accordance with the Dhamma.

BJT 654I think that he seeks wealth for the sake of his mother and father, not for his own sake. With the passing away of his mother and father, he, inclined toward renunciation, will practice the holy life.

BJT 655One who is upright, not crooked, not deceitful, not cunning, and does not speak in a manner of making excuses. How could one such as he, who performs deeds that are well done, who stands firm in the Dhamma, receive suffering?

BJT 656It is on his account that I myself have appeared; therefore, you merchants, take heed of the Dhamma. Here, without him, you might have become as dust, confused like the blind, lost in the forest; for against one who treats him ill, such things and more are easily done. Truly, association with good people is happiness."

BJT 657"What is his name, what is his occupation, what is he called, and furthermore what is his clan? Sir Yakkha, we too have the wish to meet him; out of compassion for him you have come here, for whoever it is that you hold dear—the benefit belongs to that person."

BJT 658"Whoever is the barber named Sambhava, a lay follower who makes his livelihood by comb and razor—you know him; he is your servant. Indeed, do not despise him; he is exceedingly good."

BHĀṆAVĀRAṂ TATIYAṂ.

BJT 659"Sir Yakkha, we know the person of whom you speak, but we truly did not know that he was such a person. Sir Yakkha, we shall also honor him after having heard your noble words."

BJT 660"Let every person in this caravan—young, old, and middle-aged alike—all of them ascend to the heavenly palace; let the misers behold the fruit of meritorious deeds."

BJT 661There, having brought that barber forward first in that place, all of them saying "I first," all of them ascended to the heavenly palace, which was like the Masakkasāra palace of Vāsava, the lord Sakka.

BJT 662There, all of them saying "I first," declared themselves to be lay disciples. They abstained from the taking of life; they kept away from what had not been given—theft—in the world.

BJT 663There was no drinking of intoxicants, and they did not speak falsehood; they were content with their own wives. There, all of them saying "I first," declared themselves to be lay disciples. Rejoicing in the supernatural power of the Yakkha, wave after wave, the caravan, having been given leave, set forth.

BJT 664Having gone to the lands of Sindhu and Sovīra, those persons, with the aim of wealth and the hope of profit, having achieved full success according to plan, returned to Pāṭaliputta without harm.

BJT 665Those persons, having returned to their own homes, safe, in the company of their children and wives, joyful, elated, with glad minds, became jubilant and held a grand festival for Serissa.

BJT 666Those persons had the Serissakā hall built. Such is the nature of association with good people; association with the qualities of the Dhamma is of great benefit—through the benefit of a single lay follower, all living beings came to a state of happiness."

The story of the Peta Serissaka is the second.

THE THIRD RECITATION SECTION.

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